Low farmer confidence to restrict production growth

HIGH OPERATING costs and decreased farmer confidence are expected to restrict production growth to about one per cent in 2018–19, according to Dairy Australia.

DA released its Situation & Outlook last month, which revealed these factors would negate a better global market outlook and domestic competition for milk supply.

Dairy Australia senior industry analyst John Droppert said a run of dry conditions across many dairy regions through late summer and most of autumn was likely to limit the short-term impact of any price rises on farm balance sheets.

“Hay, grain and irrigation water prices are all eroding margins and present significant headwinds for the season ahead, particularly in those parts where dry conditions persist.” Mr Droppert said.

But an unfavourable northern hemisphere spring meant a predicted European oversupply failed to materialise. This delivered a brighter outlook for farmers in Australia’s southern, export-focussed dairy regions.

“Six months ago, the European supply situation was weighing heavily on the global market outlook and, while risks remain, it is likely to be some time before the amount of milk coming out of Europe builds back to a level that could create a market imbalance,” Mr Droppert said.

The June Situation and Outlook report includes the findings of its annual National Dairy Farmer Survey, showing less than half (47 per cent) of farmers across all eight dairy regions remained confident in the industry’s future, down from 53 per cent last year.

The survey was undertaken in March, amid growing concerns at a lack of rain and uncertainty around changes in the processing sector.

The trend of decreasing confidence was spread across nearly all regions but farmers were more likely to have confidence in their own operations than in the industry as a whole, with 55 per cent saying they felt positive about their own business.

“Overall, farmers are happier with their own businesses but less so about the industry which is a reflection of uncertainty around the structural changes and that will take some time to settle,” Mr Droppert said.

The survey highlighted that 80 per cent of farmers remained committed to a long-term future in the industry, while 11 per cent were in the process of winding down.